RUMINATION AND INTERPERSONAL FUNCTIONING IN PERINATAL DEPRESSION

Identifying vulnerability factors for antenatal depression is an important step in reducing depression rates. To date, research has focused on demographic and interpersonal risk factors for antenatal depression rather than cognitive factors. This study investigated the moderating role of social functioning on rumination and silencing the self in predicting prospective increases in depressive mood in a sample of pregnant women. Pregnant women at high risk for depression (n = 110) were assessed at baseline for symptoms of depressive mood, rumination, functioning aspects of perceived social support, and silencing the self. Depressive mood was measured again three months later. Social functioning moderated the effects of rumination and silencing the self on depression. For women low in social functioning, rumination was related to increases in depression while silencing the self was unrelated to rumination and depressive mood. High social functioning buffered the impact of rumination on prospective depressive mood; women who endorsed silencing beliefs that they should sacrifice their needs for others' had increases in rumination and depressive symptoms. The findings suggest that interpersonal and cognitive factors interact to predict vulnerability to depressive mood during pregnancy, and highlight the need to understand social functioning as well as beliefs about utilizing available social support.